What is a super city and why does it matter?
Cities are the engines of economic growth, social development and cultural diversity. They are also home to more than half of the world's population, a proportion that is expected to rise to 68% by 2050. As urbanization accelerates, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America, some cities have grown to become extremely large, densely populated and influential. These are the super cities.
Super City
Definition and examples of super cities
A super city is a very large city, typically with a population of more than 10 million people. There are different ways to measure the size and scope of a city, such as by its administrative boundaries, its metropolitan area or its urban agglomeration. Depending on the criteria used, there are currently between 33 and 45 super cities in the world.
Some examples of super cities are Tokyo, Jakarta, Delhi, Shanghai, Beijing, New York, London, Mumbai, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Cairo. These cities are not only populous but also powerful in terms of their economic output, political influence, cultural appeal and innovation potential. They often act as global hubs for trade, finance, technology, education and entertainment.
Benefits of super cities
Super cities offer many benefits for their residents and for the world at large. Some of these benefits are:
Economic opportunities: Super cities generate a large share of national and global GDP, create jobs and attract investments. They also foster entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness.
Social diversity: Super cities are melting pots of different cultures, languages, religions and lifestyles. They promote tolerance, creativity and learning from each other.
Civic engagement: Super cities enable people to participate in various forms of civic life, such as politics, culture, sports and volunteering. They also provide platforms for social movements, activism and advocacy.
Challenges of super cities
However, super cities also face many challenges that threaten their sustainability and livability. Some of these challenges are:
Environmental degradation: Super cities consume a lot of resources and produce a lot of waste and pollution. They are also vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and heat waves.
Infrastructure stress: Super cities suffer from congestion, overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure. They struggle to provide basic services such as water, energy, sanitation and transportation.
Social inequality: Super cities exhibit wide gaps between the rich and the poor, the formal and the informal sectors, the center and the periphery. They also experience social problems such as crime, violence and homelessness.
Future trends shaping super cities
The future of super cities will depend on how they respond to the emerging trends that will affect their development in the coming decades. Some of these trends are:
Environmental threats and resilience
Climate change will pose serious risks for super cities in terms of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, heat stress and water scarcity. Super cities will need to adopt measures to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, enhance their resilience and adaptation capacities, and protect their natural assets and ecosystems.
Resources and sustainability
Super cities will face increasing pressure to manage their resources more efficiently and sustainably. They will need to adopt circular economy principles, such as reducing waste, reusing materials, recycling resources and recovering energy. They will also need to shift to renewable and decentralized sources of energy, water and food, and promote green and blue infrastructure.
Inequality and inclusion
Super cities will have to address the social and spatial disparities that undermine their cohesion and harmony. They will need to ensure that all their residents have access to adequate housing, education, health care, social protection and opportunities. They will also need to foster social inclusion and participation of marginalized groups, such as women, youth, migrants, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities.
Innovation and creativity
Super cities will have to leverage their innovation and creativity potential to maintain their competitiveness and attractiveness. They will need to support the development of knowledge-intensive sectors, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), digital economy, creative industries and cultural heritage. They will also need to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and encourage collaboration among different stakeholders, such as academia, industry, government and civil society.
Circular economy and local production
Super cities will have to embrace the concept of circular economy, which aims to minimize the use of resources and maximize their value. Circular economy involves designing products and services that are durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable, as well as reducing the consumption of materials and energy. Super cities will also have to promote local production and consumption of goods and services, especially food, to reduce their dependence on imports and transportation costs.
How to make super cities more human and livable
Super cities can become more human and livable by adopting some of the following strategies:
Green planning of public spaces
Super cities can improve the quality of life of their residents by creating more green spaces, such as parks, gardens, forests and wetlands. Green spaces provide multiple benefits, such as improving air quality, mitigating urban heat island effect, enhancing biodiversity, reducing noise pollution, promoting physical activity and mental health, and creating opportunities for social interaction and recreation. Super cities can also use green planning techniques, such as green roofs, walls and corridors, urban farming and gardening, rainwater harvesting and stormwater management.
Smart health communities
Super cities can improve the health and well-being of their residents by developing smart health communities. Smart health communities are neighborhoods that use digital technologies, such as sensors, big data analytics, artificial intelligence and telemedicine, to provide personalized, preventive and participatory health care services. Smart health communities also promote healthy lifestyles, such as nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management, and support social and emotional well-being, such as community engagement, social support and happiness.
15-minute city concept
Super cities can improve the convenience and efficiency of their residents by implementing the 15-minute city concept. The 15-minute city concept is a vision of urban planning that aims to ensure that all the essential services and amenities, such as shops, schools, workplaces, health centers, parks and cultural venues, are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from any point in the city. The 15-minute city concept also encourages the use of public transportation and active mobility modes, such as walking, cycling and scooting, and reduces the need for private cars and long commutes.
Mobility as a service
Super cities can improve the mobility and accessibility of their residents by adopting the mobility as a service (MaaS) model. MaaS is a concept that integrates various modes of transportation, such as public transit, ride-hailing, car-sharing, bike-sharing and micro-mobility, into a single platform that allows users to plan, book and pay for their trips according to their preferences and needs. MaaS also leverages digital technologies, such as smart cards, mobile apps, GPS and blockchain, to provide real-time information, dynamic pricing and seamless transactions.
Conclusion
Super cities are the future of urbanization. They offer many opportunities and challenges for their residents and for the world. They also face many trends that will shape their development in the coming decades. Super cities can become more sustainable and livable by adopting strategies that enhance their environmental resilience, resource efficiency, social inclusion, innovation potential, green planning, smart health communities, 15-minute city concept and mobility as a service. Super cities can also become more human and enjoyable by preserving their cultural diversity, historical heritage and local identity.
FAQs
What are some of the criteria used to define a super city?
A super city is typically defined by its population size, which is usually more than 10 million people. However, there are other criteria that can be used to measure the size and scope of a city, such as its administrative boundaries, its metropolitan area or its urban agglomeration.
What are some of the benefits of super cities?
Super cities offer many benefits for their residents and for the world at large. Some of these benefits are economic opportunities, social diversity and civic engagement.
What are some of the challenges of super cities?
Super cities face many challenges that threaten their sustainability and livability. Some of these challenges are environmental degradation, infrastructure stress and social inequality.
What are some of the future trends shaping super cities?
Some of the future trends that will affect the development of super cities are environmental threats and resilience, resources and sustainability, inequality and inclusion, innovation and creativity, circular economy and local production.
What are some of the strategies to make super cities more human and livable?
Some of the strategies to make super cities more human and livable are green planning of public spaces, smart health communities, 15-minute city concept, mobility as a service.
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